Road-drag.



C. FERGUSON.

ROAD DRAG. APPLICATION FILED MAY 22,4916.

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C. FERGUSON.

ROAD DRAG.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, i916.

Patented May 15, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 entre.

CHARLES FERGUSON, 0F MILTON, INDIANA.

ROAD-DRAG.

Application filed May 22, 1916.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milton, in the county of I/Vayne and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Construction for Road-Drags, of which the following is a full, clear, and comprehensive specification, being such as will enable others to make and use the same with eX- actitude.

The object of my present invention, broadly speaking, is to provide a road drag which will be strong and durable in construction, easily operated and controlled, positive and effective in its actions and results, and which can be manufactured, sold,

and operated at a comparatively low price.

More specifically stated, my object is to provide a road drag adapted to adjust its self to the contour of the graded roadway, that is to the crown or curvature of the road in cross section, the implement being adapted to operate on both sides of the roadway at one time. The implement also being adapted for reverse operations, that is to say,the implement is adapted to operate in one direction, concentrating the residue or surplus material in the center or on the crown of the roadway, and then after a simple adjustment to be operated in the opposite direction to bring the surplus material to the sides of the roadway. And to provide an instrument having means not only for cutting down the high places and for filling in the low places, but also having additional means for smoothing down and ironing the leveled surface whereby it will be solid and compact.

Various other particular objects and advantages of the invention will be suggested in the course of the following specification, and that which is new and useful will be correlated in the appended claims.

The preferred means for carrying out my invention in a practical manner is shown in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, which form a part of this specification, in which-Figure l is a top plan view of the invention complete as arranged for the first operation. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section as taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l and in the directionindicated by the arrows on said line. Fig. 3 is a detail cross section, as taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. et is a top plan view of the invention as arranged for the second or final Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, i917.

serial No. 99,035.

operation. And Fig. 5 is a detail cross section as taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. el.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction, the operation, and the advantages of my invention may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof in which I will set forth the various features thereof as fully and as coniprehensively as I may.

Referring now to the drawings in detail: It will be observed that there are two sides or halves which are identical with each other, except as to the relative angles of the several parts. For convenience of description I will refer to the two sides of the roadway as A and B, right and left respectively.

One portion of the invention includes the two sills 1 and 2, while the other includes the sills 3 and 4i. Each pair of sills are ,at all times parallel with each other, but each pair of sills is disposed at an angle with relation to the other pair of sills, and also with relation to the roadway.

Secured on the sills l and 2, parallel with each other, and parallel with the direction of travel, `are the three bars 5, G and 7. In like manner secured on the sills 8 and -i-, parallel with each other and parallel with the roadway, are the three bars 8, 9 and l0.

Each intersection of the sills and the bars is rigidly connected together by a pair of bolts, as the bolts 1l, and each pair of bolts passes through a clip l2, and each clip rests on the surface of the bars above mentioned.

Secured to and extending below the lower edge of the forward face of each of the forward sills 1 and 3 are the respective blades 13 and la, each being detachably secured to its sill by the respective sets of bolts l5 and 16.

Connecting the rear face of the sill l with the under side of each of the bars 5, 6 and 7 are the respective braces 17, 18 'and 19, the same being attached to said bars 5, G and 7 by means of the bolts 20. In like manner connecting the rear face of the sill 3 with the under side of each of the bars 8, 9 and 1() are the respective braces 2l, 22 and 23, the same being attached to said bars S, 9 and 10 by means of the bolts 24. The lower ends of said braces are secured by certain of said bolts l5 and 1G.

The lower edges of the sills l and 8 are each covered by a metal plate, as shown at in F ig. 5.

Secured to the lowerl edges and a portion of the forward faces of the sills 2 and 4 are the angle-irons or sinoothers, and 27 respectively. The angle iron 26 being secured to the sill 2 by a plurality of bolts 28, and the angle-iron 27 being secured to the sill 4 by a plurality of bolts 29.

Also secured to the rear face of the sill 2 by certain of the bolts 23 are braces 30, which extend to the under sides of the bars 5, 6 and 7 where they are secured by the bolts 31. ln like manner secured to the rear face of the sill 4 by certain of the bolts 29 are braces 32, which extend to the under side of the bars 8, 9 and10 where they are secured by the bolts 33.

The bars 5 and 7 extend forward farther than the bar 6, and to the extending portions of said bars 5 and 7 are connected the respective clevises 34 and 35. Also the bars 8 and 10 extend forward farther than the bar 9, and to the extending portions of said bars 8 and 10 are connected the respective clevises 3G and 37.

Numeral 38 denotes the draw-bar, which is of a length substantially equal to the combined width of the two members above described.

Secured to and extending back from the draw-bar 38 are the four hooks or eye-bolts `39, 40, 41 and 42.

Connecting the hooks 39, 40, 41 and 42 with the clevises 34, 35, 36 and 37 are the respective chains 43, 44, 45 and 46, which are detachably connected either with the clevises or said hooks, or both.

Extending forward from the draw-bar 3S 'are the clevises 47 and 4S to provide means for bitching to the drag. A team of animals may be hitched to each clevis 47 and 48, or a motor may be suitably attached to the draw-bar, or the two clevises 47 and 48 may be connected by means of chains or otherwise to the rear end of a wagon and the drag may be operated by trailing it behind the wagon which may be driven along in the center of the roadway.

Secured on top of the bars G and 9, 'and extending parallel therewith, are the respective blocks 49 and 50. Secured in the said blocks are the respective fixed pivot pins 51 and 52, their heads resting on the respective bars G and 9 and with their ends projecting out above the respective blocks 49 and 50.

Numeral 53 denotes the tie-plate for pivotedly connecting together the two main side portions of the device.

Secured across the underside of the end portions of the tie-plate are the reinforcements 54 and 55. Formed vertically through said reinforcements, and corre' spondingly through the tie-plate 53, are a plurality of holes 56 and 57, each of which is adapted to receive the projecting portions of the pins 51 and 52.'

Formed around the end portions of the tic plate are frames 58 and 59, to provide containers for weights, not shown.

Numerals 60 and 61 denote auxiliary devices, for the purpose hereinafter stated, the same being pivotally connected on one of respective bolts 28 and 29 at the ends of the bars 2 and 4, in such manner that they may be turned out parallelwith their bars, as in Fig. 4 to form extensions for said bars, or they may be turned in, as in F ig. 1, where they will be out of the way. The respective stops (32 and prevent said devices 60 and (31 from dropping down out of extended position.

lt will be apparent that the device can be operated in a variety of ways, but that which l have found to give the best results I will describe merely 'as an instance of the way it may be used: The device is arranged first as shown in Fig. 1, and it may then be. drawn forward over the center of the roadway. fis the device moves forward it is, evident that the blades 13 and 14 will cut down the high places and the projecting stones, carrying the line material and filling in the depressions, and the stones and surplus material not depositedin the depressions will be deflected inward toward the center and finally deposited along in the center of the roadway.

ln the second operation the device is turned around and the chains 43, 44, 45 and 46 are detached and the tie-plate 53 lifted up and removed. Thetwo sections of the device are then transposed and again connected up with the draw-bar, and the tieplate is again placed in position, thereby placing the device in the condition in which it is shown in Fig. 4.

rlhe device is then drawn over the same section of the highway and accomplishing similar results as before, but further smoothing the surface. rlhis second operation will carry the stones and surplus material outward away from the center and deposit the stones and surplus material at the sides of the roadway. y

As the two main sections are brought closer together in the second operation it is evident that very little if any material will be left in the center of the roadway, but by reason of the two sections being nearer together it is evident that the surplus material and stones will not be carried out as far as was reached in the iirst operation, therefore l provide the auxiliary devices 60 and 61 which may be turned outward in the second operation in order to carry the loose stones outward as far as is desired.

Vhen it is desired a large stone or other weight may be placed on each of the end portions of the tie-plate, where they will beV prevented from rolling off by the frames 58 and 59. Also when desired one or more persons may stand on the tie-plate to afford additional weight.

In practice I have found that the blades 13 and 14 result in cutting off the high places and pulling out the projecting stones, while the angle-iron smoothers pack and smooth the level surface, thereby leaving the surface in first class condition.

It should be noticed that by dropping one or more of the links of the chains 44 and 46 the angle of the blades will be changed, which will cause them to cut more of the surface of the roadway, and conversely, by dropping` one or more of the links of the chains 43 and 45 the angle of the blades will be changed to cause them to cut less deeply into the surface of the roadway. This is made possible by reason of the comparatively long links of all of the chains 43, 45, 44 and 46, which are adapted to be connected in the hooks 39, 40, 4l and 42, respectively.

Also it should be observed that by reason of the holes 56 and 57 the two main sections may be adjusted toward and from each other as desired.

I desire that it be understood that various changes may be made in the Several details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention and Without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inconsistent with the appended claims.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A road drag comprising a pair of interchangeable sections disposed in angular relation with the line of the road way, and with each other, each of said sections comprising a pair of sills, a' pair of end bars and a center bar rigidly connecting said sills of each section in spaced parallel relation one to the other, a blade secured to the forward face of the front sill and extending therebelow, an angle-iron smoother secured to the rearward sill, a tie-plate extending across said sections, means for adjustably securing the ends of the tie-plate to the central bar of the sections, a container formed at either end of said tie-plate for the reception of suitable weights therein, a draw-bar, and means connecting said draw-bar and the end bars of said sections whereby the drag may be drawn over the road way.

2. In a road drag, the combination with a pair of angularly and oppositely disposed scraper' sections, a plate adjustably connecting said sections in any desired spaced angular relation, means carried by said plate for supporting weights centrally of said sections, draw bars spacedly secured on said sections in parallel relation to the line of the roadway and to each other, a draft bar coextensive with said sections, and means spacedly connecting said draft bar with each of said drawbars.

3. In aroad drag, the combination with a pair of reversible angularly and oppositely disposed scraper' sections, of an elongated plate connecting said sections, means for adjusting said sections in spaced relation one with the other, means carried at the opposite ends of said plate for supporting weights centrally of said sections, drawbars spacedly secured on said sections in parallel relation to the line of the roadway and to each other, a draft bar coextensive with said sections, and means spacedly connecting said draft bar with each of said drawbars.

4. In a road drag, the combination with a pair of reversible angularly and oppositely disposed scraper sections, of an elongated plate connecting said sections in either of their operative positions, means for adjusting said sections in spaced relation one with the other, extensions carried by said sections, and adapted to cooperate with the latter in one of their positions of operation, means carried at the opposite ends of said plate for supporting weights centrally of said sections, drawbars spacedly secured on said sections in parallel relation to the line of the roadway and to each other, a draft bar coeXtensive with said sections, and means spacedly connecting said draft bar with each of said drawbars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES FERGUSON. l/Vitnesses:

R. E. RANDLE, Roer. W. RANDLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o Patents, Washington, IDl C. 

